Five Trees From Sister Cities Will Go In Its Place
posted August 23, 2006
The 100-year-old shade tree in Coolidge Park will have to be felled after a severe windstorm two weeks ago caused a dangerous split in its main trunk, city officials said Wednesday.
Gene Hyde, city urban forester, had already removed a large portion of the tree in an effort to keep it from completely falling apart.
He said, “In my opinion it is most unfortunate that this tree will be removed, but my primary concern is for the safety of the park visitors.”
The damaged slippery elm in Coolidge Park will be removed on Thursday at approximately 8:30 a.m. – weather permitting. The tree will be completely removed and the trunk ground.
Mr. Hyde said, “I do think that we’ve created a solid plan to handle the tree replacement as well as a fair and equitable way to dispose of the remaining wood.”
In its place a grove of five trees representing Chattanooga’s five Sister Cities will be planted this fall and dedicated next March in the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration. Each of the trees selected for planting will be representative of the species of tree found in or around that particular Sister City. The Sister City Association has approved this action and will be an active participant in implementing this initiative, it was stated.
The larger portions of wood from the Coolidge Park slippery elm will be given to interested wood workers. A small portion of the wood will be used to create a special vessel which will be housed in the renovated Outdoor Chattanooga Initiative building located immediately adjacent to Coolidge Park. Another portion will be used to make plaques for the Chattanooga Tree Commission’s Annual Awards banquet.
The remaining usable pieces of the wood will be given cut into 4-foot lots and given away by lottery. Interested wood carvers are directed to appear at the parking lot of City Wide Services at 900 East 11th St. on Thursday, Aug. 31.
Inspection of the wood and registration will be between 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. At 10 a.m. the lottery process will begin with registrants’ names being drawn and the first name will get their choice of the wood lots. This process will continue until all the wood has been given out. You must be present to participate.
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